How to Repair .NET Framework in Windows (Easy Guide)
A damaged or corrupt .NET Framework in Windows OS is sure to disrupt several critical software operations, which may become a problem for your daily operations. In case your system deals with such issues, your priority must be to repair .NET Framework, which will get you back on track.
This blog helps you figure out the symptoms you encounter due to a damaged .NET Framework and the technique to tackle them firsthand. You’ll discover how to download the Microsoft .NET Framework Repair Tool to fix the problem automatically and also a manual way to configure .NET Framework on your PC. So, read this blog till the end to thoroughly examine the correct approach to fix damaged .NET Framework on your system.
What Happens if You Do Not Fix .NET Framework Windows?
You’ll find your performance-related issues if the .NET Framework stops working or gets damaged on Windows OS. For your info, the issues won’t be limited to a single software, and every program that use .NET Framework will start malfunctioning. The symptoms mentioned below are often linked to corrupt, missing or damaged .NET Framework in Windows OS-
- Software freezing or crashing randomly: You’ll experience the software freezing at startup or crashing randomly in between the tasks. This happens instantly when the software fails to integrate with .NET Framework on your Windows.
- Recurring error messages: Your system will start displaying error codes or messages like “Error 1935, Error 1334, .NET Framework Initialization error, etc. once the .NET Framework gets damaged. Even sometimes, the ongoing program functioning will be instantly stopped, and you might also lose unsaved data if the error codes are followed by a software crash.
- Slow Performance: Your system might showcase lags or sluggish performance while loading pages, processing transactions, or the entire software functions will turn slow if the .NET framework isn’t quickly fixed.
- Compatibility Issues: Certain programs won’t be able to integrate with other Windows applications or utilize them for regular tasks. This happens because .NET Framework is a critical component for programs to run and collaborate with other third-party applications.
- Installation or Launch Issues: Programs won’t install on your system if the .NET Framework is damaged.
- Network Connectivity Issues: Programs won’t be able to sync data with the servers or completely fail to access the Internet if .NET Framework doesn’t work properly on your Windows.
- Software update issues: You won’t be able to update programs if .NET Framework isn’t in good shape on your system. Even if the program update file gets downloaded, Windows Installer will encounter issues installing it on your system.
These are some common issues observed when the .NET Framework gets damaged or corrupt. Even if the system doesn’t notify you directly, the above-mentioned issues are possible to occur when the .NET Framework is at fault. The best way to fix them is the Microsoft Framework Repair Tool, which automatically diagnoses the issues and sorts them out. Find out more about the tool in the next section of our blog.
The Microsoft .NET Framework Repair Tool
The .NET Framework is a Microsoft-developed platform to build/run Windows applications and is extremely critical for the PC applications to run smoothly. Microsoft offers a dedicated .NET Framework Cleanup Tool, which addresses the Framework issues and fixes them by repairing corrupt installations of existing .NET Framework versions. You can use the tool to fix setup issues for the following configurations:
Compatibility
| .NET Framework 4.8 | Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) |
| .NET Framework 4.7.2 | Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) |
| .NET Framework 4.7.1 | Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) |
| .NET Framework 4.6.1 | Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) |
| .NET Framework 4.6.2 | Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 2 (SP2) & Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) |
| .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 | Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2) |
Note: The Tool can also fix .NET Framework 4.0, 4.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8 and 3.5 SP1 (both .NET 3.0 SP2 and .NET 2.0 SP2)
Method to Download
Implement these steps to download the .NET Framework Repair Tool on your PC:
- Begin by downloading the Microsoft .NET Framework Repair Tool available on the Microsoft Download Center website.
- Open the NetFxRepairTool.exe file downloaded on your PC.
- Select the I have read and accept the License Terms checkbox and tap Next.
- The tool automatically detects the issues and mentions their countermeasures under the Recommended Changes section in the next window.
- Tap Next and wait until the tool automatically fixes the issues.
How the Tool Works
Here’s the working principle of the .NET Framework Repair Tool or NetFxRepairTool-
- Scans your system for any issues with the .NET Framework.
- Prompts the user to apply the fixes required.
- Repairs all the versions of .NET Framework installed on your PC.
- Collects logs after fixing the issues to share with Microsoft for future convenience.
Basic Commands (Only for IT professionals)
You can use the following commands in the CMD after providing the full path where the tool is saved. The commands will go like- ‘NetFxRepairTool.exe Command’
- /? OR /help: Use NetFxRepairTool.exe /? To open help.
- /q OR /quiet: Use NetFxRepairTool.exe /q to run the tool without any user interaction. Logs will still be saved.
- /p OR /passive: Use NetFxRepairTool.exe /p to run the tool in passive mode.
- /a OR /addsource: Use NetFxRepairTool.exe /a to run the tool in offline mode. Enter the shared folder name containing the setup redistributable files.
- /r OR /repair: Use NetFxRepairTool.exe /r to repair a specific .NET version rather than all of them.
- /l OR /logs: Use NetFxRepairTool.exe /l to specify a folder to save the FixDotNet*.cab files created by the tool.
- /c OR /collectonly: Use NetFxRepairTool.exe /c for the Log Collection mode only. Repair won’t be performed when you enter this command.
- /n OR /noceipconsent: Use NetFxRepairTool.exe /n to stop the tool from sending any information to Microsoft.
How to Use the .NET Framework Repair Tool Offline?
The .NET Framework Repair Tool is by default set to fix all the .NET Framework versions installed on your computer. The tool automatically downloads the redistributable files for each version during repair. In case you don’t have internet connectivity, you can use the tool in offline mode, but you must have the redistributable files for the .NET Framework version you want to repair. Use the /addsource command to run in offline mode and enter the path to the folder containing the redistributable files.
You are advised to download the redistributable files of the .NET Framework versions below to run the .NET Repair Tool Windows 10 in offline mode when necessary. Choose as per your requirement:
| .NET Framework Version | Installer file name & Download link |
| .NET Framework 4.8 | NDP48-x86-x64-AllOS-ENU.exe |
| .Net Framework 4.7.2 | NDP472-KB4054530-x86-x64-AllOS-ENU.exe |
| .Net Framework 4.7.1 | NDP471-KB4033342-x86-x64-AllOS-ENU.exe |
| .Net Framework 4.7 | NDP47-KB3186497-x86-x64-AllOS-ENU.exe |
| .Net Framework 4.6.2 | NDP462-KB3151800-x86-x64-AllOS-ENU.exe |
| .Net Framework 3.5 SP1
.Net Framework 3.0 SP2 .Net Framework 2.0 SP2 |
dotnetfx35.exe |
Here’s How to Repair .NET Framework by Reinstalling
If you have already used the Microsoft .NET Framework Repair Tool, we don’t think there are any installation or update issues left. Still, we would like to describe a different method to overcome internal errors frequently appearing in the software. This involves configuring some system settings to turn .NET Framework on & off. You can overcome installation and update errors along with fixing missing features or buttons in the software. Here’s how to reinstall .NET Framework:
- Ensure all the programs are closed, including the ones you are facing problems with.
- Open Control Panel from the search bar or click the Settings (Gear) icon in the Windows Start button pop-up menu.
- If you use Windows 11, type ‘Windows Features’ in the search bar on the left; you will directly find the Programs and Features option in Windows 10.
- Click Turn Windows Features on or off and search for .NET Framework on the list.
Now, you have to toggle the settings of .NET Framework 4.5 (or later) and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 settings as shown below:
Case 1: If the checkboxes for .NET Framework 4.5 (or later) and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 aren’t marked:
- Single-click on the checkbox alongside them to turn them on.
- Tap OK to save the changes and reboot your system.
Case 2: If the checkboxes for .NET Framework 4.5 (or later) and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 are marked:
- Click the checkbox alongside them to turn them off.
- Tap OK to save the changes and reboot your system.
- Sign back into your Windows and turn on .NET Framework 4.5 (or later) and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 again by marking the checkboxes.
This will reinstall .NET framework Windows 10 as well as on Windows 11. Many users have tackled several software issues using this method. However, you must always use the Microsoft Framework Repair Tool if you do not have the proper IT knowledge to interfere with the Framework settings in Windows OS.
Conclusion
This blog discussed the need to repair Microsoft .NET Framework when a software fails to install/run on your computer. The correct method to download and use the Microsoft .NET Framework Repair Tool is elaborated in the blog. Other issues due to a damaged .NET Framework can also be addressed by using the tool to reinstall the .NET Framework version.
Remember, maintaining an updated .NET Framework isn’t only necessary to avoid errors and issues; it also keeps your system’s performance in optimal condition. Use the approach given in the blog to enjoy a smooth and error-free system.
FAQs
Why does .NET Framework fail to install, and how can I fix it?
You can face problems installing the .NET Framework if the previous version is corrupt or damaged. Other reasons might include a damaged installation file, an outdated Windows OS, compatibility issues, and corrupt or missing system files. The overall solution for all these issues is the .NET Framework Cleanup Tool, which is explained in the blog. You can also try-
- Downloading the latest updates for your Windows OS.
- Right-click on the CMD icon and open it as an administrator. Type ‘sfc /scannow’ to check your system files using the SFC utility. Download any damaged or corrupt files again.
- Ensure the internet connection is working and re-download the .NET Framework version.
What steps should I take if third-party software conflicts with .NET Framework?
Here are the steps you must follow to ensure the conflict between third-party software and .NET Framework doesn’t happen again –
- Step 1: Identify the conflicting software: Check for the application’s name in the error messages, go through recently installed applications, or go to the Applications option below Windows Logs in the Event Viewer.
- Step 2: Disable antivirus: Ensure the security software is turned off, as they can also disrupt .NET Framework.
- Step 3: Run the software in Compatibility mode: Right-click on the software’s icon and click Properties > Go to the Compatibility tab > Select Windows 7 or 8 below Run this program in compatibility mode for > Tap Apply.
- Step 4: Disable/uninstall the conflicting software: If .NET Framework still fails to install due to the software, you can disable the conflicting software from the task manager until the .NET Framework is installed or remove the application permanently if it is of no use.
What’s the difference between repairing the .NET Framework Runtime and SDK?
The .NET Framework Runtime is used to execute the .NET applications at the user’s end, whereas the .NET Framework Software Development Kit is used to create .NET applications by developers. You’ll need to fix .NET Framework Runtime if the PC applications randomly crash or fail to install, whereas .NET Framework SDK must be fixed if you face issues during debugging/compiling or you can’t access development tools.
Fixing .NET Framework Runtime includes using the .NET Framework Repair Tool, whereas you’ll have to reinstall the .NET Framework SDK from the official Microsoft website.
How do I use DISM or SFC scan to repair .NET Framework dependencies?
You’ll need to use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool or the System File Checker (SFC) tool in case critical Windows files get damaged or corrupt. This directly impacts the OS and can become a reason for the entire OS corruption. The DISM contains the files required to repair the damage, and SFC replaces the corrupted files with their cached copy. The method includes running DISM and then SFC as shown below:
Step 1: Run DISM
- Right-click on the CMD icon and tap the Run as administrator option in the list.
- Fill in your admin password if required, or tap Allow if asked for confirmation.
- Type the following command in CMD and hit Enter to execute: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Step 2: Run SFC
- Enter the following command in the CMD running in admin mode: sfc /scannow
- Wait for the scan to finish and check out the message displayed on the screen. Perform the actions mentioned adjacent to the message:
- Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations: All the system files are intact, and you do not have to do anything.
- Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation:Try running SFC again in Safe Mode.
- Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them: All the damaged files are fixed, and the scan is successful. Refrain from doing anything.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them: Check the corrupt files in the detailed summary of the scan and replace them manually.
